Off-bearing mechanism for tile cutters



A. G. HAGUE.

OFF-BEARING MECHANISM FOR TILE CUTTERS. APPLICATION FILED AUGJS, 1919.

1,41 1,492. 7 P nt Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- A. G. HAGUE.

OFF-BEARING MECHANISM FOR TILE'CUTTERS.

APPLICATION FILED Aueds. 191s.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4' SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ill v L: sum-11mm "mull A. G. HAGUE. OFF-BEARING MECHANISM FOR TILE CUTTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15I I919.

Patented Apr. 4,1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- {1/62/11 K a MIIIIEEH Inuenlor W A. G. HAGUE.

OFF-BEARING MECHANISM FOR TILE CUTTERS. APPLICATION FILED AUGJS, 1919.

1,41 1,492. Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' A. R 6, 7/ 2 y v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' VALFRED G. HAGUE, OFHADEL, IOWA, nssrenon T0 HALVER R. STRAIGHT, or ABEL. IOWA.

OFF-BEARING MECHANISM FOR TILE CUTTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ap 4 1922 Application filed au ust- 15, 1919. Serial no. 317,781.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G.l-Lioen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adel, in the county of Dallas, Stateof Iowa, have invented an Oil-Bearing Mechanism for Tile Cutters, of whichthe following is the specification.

This invention relates to the clay industry and particularly to a mechanism for moving hollow building blocks or drain tile from a cutter table while in a plastic condition, and placing the same on an endless conveyor in a substantially vertical position.

The object 01 my invention is to provide an off-bearing mechanism for tile cutters of simple, durable and inexpensive construe tion, adapted to automatically remove plastic blocks or tile from'a cutting table and place the same on a sepa ate conveyor.

A further object is to provide in anotfi bearing mechanism for tile cutters, new and improved method of gras nng plastic tile or blocks.

A still further object is to provide an offbearing mechanism driven by independent power and timed to the cuttingtable in such a manner as not to materially increase the power required to move the conveyor oi? the said cutting table.

A further object is to provide in anoii' bearing mechanism, means whereby the plastic tile or hollow blocks and the like may be quickly and firmly grasped and removed from the cutter table without crushing or .varping the walls oi the said. tile or blocks.

There are other objects which-will be apparent to those skilled in the art and which need not be enumerated in detail.

My invention consists in the construction.

arrangement and-combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims. andv illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my off-bearing mechanism showing the manner in which it is mounted relative to the cutter table and the horizontal conveyor.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with 1 the horizontal conveyor removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof one of the grippers showing a portion of the air tube attached.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of said grippers taken on theline 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the operating cyllnder and its controlling valve.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of one of the timing and controlling valves for the grippers.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view. of said timing valve taken on the line '7-7 of Fig. 6. i

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the timing valve showing-the manner in which the operating arm is attached.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the controlling valve showing the air ports, and is taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. i

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the timing valve showing the operating lever in ment.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional View of the timing valve showing the air recesses takenon the line 11-11 of Fig. 10. Also showing the position of the air ports.

Fig. 12 is a detail end view of one of the cams ior actuating the timing valve.

Fig. 13 is a detail view showing the operating arm for the timing valve in position relative to one of the guide arms of the cut-' ter conveyor. 1

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates the side oi a. cutting tablehaving legs 11 and a con veyor 12-. The conveyor 12 is formed of links 13. and transverse plates 14, each alternate plate 1 1 is provided at each end with a guide arm 15 and each intermediate plate 14 is provided at each end with a short guide arm 16. Each of the links 13 is provided with aroller 17 designedto run in' a channel or track 18, provided on the inner face of each of said side members 10. Each of the alternate plates 14 is designedto carry a pallet 19, each of said pallets being designed to carry a plastic block or tile, one. of the blocks being shown in position in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The pallets illustrated are flat on top and designed to carry rectangular building blocks, but when it is desired. to

cut and carry drain tile, a pallet with a concave face is provided, in place of the flat faced pallets.

The sides of the cutter table are of. considerable length, and for that reason the pallets of the conveyor 12 lie in a horiaontal plane as they move across the top portion of said table, and are of such a width as to nearly touch when in said horizontal'posi- 7 tion. The column of plastic material is fed horizontally upon the top faces of said pa llets, the'conveyor 12 is moved horizontally. in .the tracks 18 by frictionalcontact bepal ets" have reached the end. of the cutter table, they momentarily take a position on an angle, as illustrated in Fig. 1,.of about forty degrees with a horizontal line. This is approximately the proper. position to remove the block from thecutter conveyor, and also the properposition in which the block should assume to allow the cutter wires to clear the rear end of the block. At this angle the blocks will not slide ofi of the pallets, and for that reason I have designed my machine to remove the blocksat the an le illustrated.

Near the delivery end 0 the table 10, I have provided a horizontal conveyor 20, having a belt 21 in. line with the conveyor 12 and in a plane considerable lower than the said cutter conveyor. This conveyor 20 for the purpose of receiving the plastic blocks or tile on end, in an upright position,

from the table 10. The belt 21 is driven by an suitable power and at a speed considerab yhigher than the side of the conveyor 12, for the purpose of separating the blocks so that they may be easily grasped by operators as the are removed from said conveyor 21, and p aced on drier cars. 7

This cutter table and horizontal conveyor are of the ordinary construction and form no particular part of my invention, and are illustrated to show the operative relation between my device and said conveyors.

To remove the plastic blocks from the pallets 19 and place them on the conveyor belt 21 automatically, I have provided the follow inglmechanism. I ounted between thelegs 11 and beneath the delivery end of the cutter frame 10, I have provided a frame 22.

.Theirame 22 is provided with upright supports 23.- the upper ends of which have rotatively mounted thereon a transverse shaft 24. The shaft 24 is provided ateachve or 12, at the end of the table.

he uprights 25 are so spaced that they may be moved between the guide arms 15 and past the ends of the pallets 19, the said pallets beinga considerable shorter than the length of the plates 14. The supports 25 are for. the purpose of carrying what I shall term, grippers, designed to pick up blocks from the'pallets 19 and releasethem when in the proper position over the belt 21. Each of said grippers comprise a plate 27, .(Figs. 3and 4) having slanting flanges 28 and parallel flanges 29. The flanges 29 are pro.- vided with screw threaded openings 30. The said grippers are formed right and left and each providedwith a tapering socket 31 de signed to receive the upper end of said supports lower edge of the socket 31 for the purpose of locking the gripping devices in position.

An air chamber 34 is provided adjacent to said socket and is designed to enter in communication with a flexible hose 35, the free end of which is providedwith a coupling 36. The chamber 34 is in communication with the pocket 37 formed by the plate 27 and the flanges 28. For each of the pockets 37, I have provided a diaphragm 38 formed of flexible material such as rubber or leather, secured to the flange portion 29 by means of metal strips 39, and screws 40, in the holes 30. By thi arrangement, an air pocket 37 is formed, and communicates with the chamber 34 through the slot 41.

It will thusbe seen that if air or any suitable gas be forced into the chamber 34 and into the pocket 37 through the slot 4 the diaphragm 38 will be forced outward to the position shown in Fig. 4. If the said air or {gas is sucked out by a vacuum or exhausted, thediaphragm will collapse, due to the atmospheric pressure. a

It is evident that if two of these gripping devices are spaced apart and'clamped to the ends of the supports 25 with their dia-. phragms facing each other a distance greater than the width of the block to be removed, and if air isadmitted to the pockets 37, the said diaphragms will ex and toward each other and engage the a jacent edges of a block or tile, placed between them, and firmly grasp the same. The pressure will be evenly distributed over the surface engaged by said diaphragms, the area'of said diaphragms being of such sizethat the. initial pressure maybe low, and the crushing, or.

warping of the walls, of the plastic blocks prevented. On account of the diaphragm being pliable andflexible, it will adjust A set screw 33 is provided in the itself readily to slight variations in widths and uneven surfaces without injurious effects to said surfaces.

For controlling and supplying air to the said grippers, I have provided a compressed air pipe 42, a suction or vacuum pipe and a controlling valve let. The air pipe 42 may be attached to a suitable compressed air tank, not shown in the drawings, and having the regular controlling and pressure regulating devices. In this connection it may be noted. that by adjusting the pressure regulating devices, the grippers may be quickly and accurately adjusted to take care of blocks of different weights, the heavier block requiring more air pressure than the lighter one. Likewise the vacuum pipe 43 is designed to be attached to a suitable vacuum tank, said tank to be equipped with the ordinary regulating devices. The said pipes. are provided with a controlling valve, comprising a body portion 44 having a flange 415, said flange being provided with a slot 4-6, which is for the purpose of adjustahly mounting the valves to the supports 25 by means of bolts -17 The said body portion is also provided with cylindrical air chambers 48 closed at their upper ends and provided at their lower ends with shoulder portions 49, each, of which is designed to receive a flexible hose, l2 and 43. Parallel to the said air chamber 48 is a cylindrical valve chamber 50 having longitudinal slots 51 and 52 in communication with the chambers 48 6 and 11).

The chamber 50 is designed to receive a valve 53 having a stem 541- and ports 55 and 56 in communication with the longitudinal opening 57 of the valve 53. The ports 55 and 56 are spaced apart a distance greater than the slots 51 and 52 and for that reason, when the slot 52 and the port 55 are in communication, the slot 51 and the port 56 will be out of line with each other, as illustrated in Fig. 6. This will close the slot- 51. ii. the valve 53 is rotated in a countenclockwise direction, the port 56 will be moved in line with the slot 51 and the slot 523 closed. I have provided a coupling member 58 designed to be secured into the end of the valve chamber 50, as illustrated in Fig. 7. This coupling member 58 is designed to make connection with the member 36 before described. j

By this arrangement, the pocket 37 may be in communication with either of the pipes 42 or 43 by an oscillating movement of the valve 53. V

For actuating the valve 53, I have provided a lever 59 secured to the valve stem 5 by means of the key 60. The lever 59 is provided at one end with a cam 61 and at the other with the cam 62, the cam 61 being designed to lie in the path of the guide arm 16 when the rippers are in the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the exhaust or vacuum pipe is in communication with the diaphragm.

As the conveyor 12 is rotated, the arm 16 will engage thecam 61 and cause the valve 57 to be rotated and moved to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, with the slot 52 in line with the port 55. Compressed air is admitted to the diaphragms, which causes them to expand and grasp the block, the further operation of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Extending upward from the base 22, l have provided a support 63 designed to carry an operating cylinder 64-, the said cylinder ca is mounted in a head 65, having lugs. 66 which are pivotally secured to the upper end of the member 63. One side of the member is provided with a valve seat 67, having ports 68 and 69. The air port 68 is de signed to communicate with the inside of the cylinder 64, while the port 69is desgined to communicate with the atmosphere. I A valve chest 70 is provided for the seat 67 and has a projection 71 provided with an opening 72. The opposite end of the chest is provided with a packing gland 73, in which is slidably mounted a rod 74, the opposite end of the rod being slidably mounted in the opening 72. The valve 75 is provided for the seat 67, which is similar to those used on the steam engines, and has a port 76 designed to communicate with the ports 68 and 69.

The opposite end of the cylinder 6% is provided with a head 76 having an opening 77 to permit free movement of the air due to the action of the piston 78. The said piston is provided with the regular packing- 7 9 and is secured to oneend of a rod 80 by means of a nut 81. I

Secured to the central portion of the shaft 24, I have provided an arm 82, the central portion of which is designed to carry the upper end of the rod 80, said rod being pivotally connected thereto by means of a.

pivot 83. The upper end of the rod 80 has a shoulder 84 a ainst which rests a. spring 85, the lower on of which rests on the head 76. This spring 85 is for the purpose oi? counter-balancing the weight of the grippers together with. the supporting'arms when the said grippers are in a delivery position. 7

Pivotally connected to the outer end of the rod 74:, is a rod 86, provided with ad justing nuts 87 and 88. The said rod 86 is slidably mounted in the free end of the arm 82-. V

I have provided a pipe 89 in communication with the chest 70 and with the flexible hose 42. In practical operation, assuming that the flexible hose 42 is connected to .a compressed air tank and in communication therewith, and the pipe 43 is in communication with the vacuum tank, and that the block from the cutting table has been delivered to the'position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and that the valve 5718 in a position with the slot 51 in communication with the port 56: This will permit the cam .61 to lie in the path of the arm 16,- as illustratedin said figure. The diaphragms will then bein communication with the vacuum tank and be in a collapsed position, permitting the said block to move freely between them. As the conveyor 12 is advanced, the arm 16 will engage the cam 61 and cause the valve 57 to be rocked or rotated to the position shown in Fig. 6 with the slot 52 and the port 55 in line with each other. This will permit compressed air from the pipe 12 to enter the pocket v37 back of the diaphragms and cause them to be expanded toward each other and to grip the block. The valve 75 will be in the position shown in'Fig. 5, with the piston 7 8 in its upper position of move inent. As the'pallet 19 is advanced, it will movet-he block and the grippers forward until the said block has passed a vertical center through the shaft 24, after which gravity will move the arms 25 to the position shown by dotted lines, in Fig. 1. The

iston 78 will have moved downwardly in the cylinder 64 and the contained air therein exhausted through the ports 68 and 69. i The free end-of the arm 82 will slide down the shaft 86 and engage the nuts 87, causing the valve to be moved downward until the i ipper edge of said valve passes the port 68. hiswill permit compressed air from the pipe 89 to enter the cylinder 64 and form a cushion with the downward movement of said piston, and also for taking the inertia ofthe arms 25. Just before the arms 25 have reached the position shown by dotted lines, the cam 62 of the arm 59 will engage a cam .90, which is adjustably secured to the side of the conveyor frame 20. This cam 90 will cause the valve '57 to be rotated so that the ports 51 and 56 are in communication. This will cause the diaphragms 83 to collapse inasmuch as the, port isin communication with the vacuum tank through the pipes 43. The collapsing of said diaphragms will permit the block to be released in an upright position on the conveyor belt 21. The compressed air within the cylinder 64 will move the piston 78 upward, causing the arms 25 movement of thegrippers with the conveyor without materially adding any friction to the said conveyor. The valve 57 may be accurately timed-with the movement of the pallet 19 by the adjusting bolt 47 and the slot 46. The delivery of the blocks may be timed by adjusting the cam 91 relative to the side of the frame 20 by means of the nuts 95 and the slot 96. The timing of the valve 75 is accomplished by adf'gusting the nuts 87 and 88 on the rod 86. y adjustin these nuts, the proper timing of the said valve may be accomplished so that the cushion effected may be im anted to the arms 25.

Grippers of di erent shapes or sizes may be provided to adapt them to tile of different shapes and sizes and may used in the place of the one shown in thedrawings, and may be secured to or detached by means of nuts 33 and the coupling 36.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an off-bearing mechanism for block and tiie cutters of comparatively simple construction which may be accurately timed to operate 8 with the convcyorof the cutter table without imparting any additional load thereto. I claim: a i 1. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers each having a diaphragm on its inner face, a support for said grippers, means formoving said grip pers from a deliveryposition to a receiving position, means tor admitting compressed air to the hack of each diaphragm when Ina receiving position, and means for producing a partial vacuum back'of said diaphragm when in a delivery position.

2. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on its inner face, a support for said grippers, means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position, means for limiting the movement of said grippers in one direction, means for admitting compressed air to the hack of each diaphragm when in a receiving position, and means for producing a partial vacuum back of said diaphragms when in a delivery posh t'ion. 3. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on its inner face, a support for said grippers, means forexpanding and contracting each of saiddiaphragms comprising a compressed air pipe, a vacuum pipe, a valve capable oi. communicating with said diaphragm and capable of communicating with either of said pipes, means for moving the valve in communication with the compressed air pipe when the diaphragm is in a receiving position and means for moving the valve in communication with the vacuum pipe when the diaphragm is in a delivery position, and means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position.

4. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers each having a diaphragm on its inner face, a support for i, ii 1,492

said grippers, means for detachably con necting said grippers to said support, means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position, means for limiting the movement of said grip 'iers in one direction, means for admitting compressed air to the backs of said diaphragms when in a receiving position. and means for producing ""a partial vacuum back of said diaphragms when in a delivery position.

5. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on its inner face, and capable of movement from a receiving position to a delivery position'or vice versa, an oscillating support for carrying said grippers, comprising upright arms pivot-ally mounted substantially beneath the receiving position of said grippers, means for detachably connecting said grippers to said supports, means for producing a partial vacuum back of said diaphragms when in a delivery position, and means for admitting compressed air to the back of each diaphragm when in a receiving position.

6. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, having :1 dia phragm on each inner face, and capable of movement from a receiving position to a de livery position, means for moving the grip pers from a receiving position to a delivery position, means for admitting compressed air to the back of each diaphragm when in a receiving position, and means for producing apartial vacuum back of each diaphragm when in a delivery position, for the purpose stated.

7. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers each having a diaphragm on its inner face, and capable of movement from a receiving position to a de livery position, an oscillating support comprising upright arms pivotally mounted sub stantially beneath the receiving position of said grippers, means for moving the grippers from a receiving position to a delivery position, pneumatic means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position, means for admitting compressed air to the back of each of said diaphragms when in a receiving position, and. means for producing a partial vacuum back of each diaphragm when in a delivery position, for the purpose stated.

8. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on its inner face and capable of movement from a receiving position to a delivery position, an oscillating support comprising upright arms pivotally mounted substantially beneath the receiving position of said grippers, means for moving the grippers from a receiving position to a delivery position, pneumatic means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position, means ior detachably. con necting said grippers to said support, means for admitting compressed air to the back of each of said (:liaphragms when in a receiving position, and means for producing a' partial vacuum back oi each diaphragm when in a delivery position, for the purpose stated.

J. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on its inner face, a support for said grippers, means for expanding and contracting each of said diaphragms comprising, a compressed air pipe, a vacuum pipe, a valve capable of communicating with said diaphragm and capable of communicating with either of said pipes, means for moving the valve in communication with the compressed air pipe when the diaphragm is in a receiving position, means for moving the valve in communication with the vacuum pipe when the diaphragm is in a; delivery position, means for moving the grippers from a receiving position to a delivery position, and pneumatic means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position.

10. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on its inner face, and capable of movement from a receiving position to a delivery position, an oscillating support comprising upright arms pivotally mounted substantially beneath the receiving position of said grippers, means for expanding and contracting each of said diaphragms comprising, a compressed air pipe, a vacuum pipe, a valve capable of communicating with said diaphragm and capable of communicating with either of said pipes. means for moving the valve in communication with the compressed air pipe when the diaphragm is in a receiving position, means for moving the valve in communication with the vacuum pipe when the diaphragm is in a delivery position, means for moving the grippers from a receiving position to a delivery position, and pneumatic means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position.

11. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on itsinner face, a support for said grippers, means for expanding and con tracting each of said diaphragms comprising, a compressed air pipe, a vacuum pipe, a valve capable of communicatingwith said diaphragm and capable of communicating with either of said pipes, means for moving the valve in communication with the compressed air pipe when the diaphragm is in a receiving position, means for moving the valve in communication with the vacuum pipe when the diaphragm is in a delivery position, pneumaticmeans for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position, and yielding means for balancing the Weight of said gripping devices and holding them to a normal positien. a w

12. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a diaphragm on its inner face, a support for said rippers, means for moving said grippers mm a delivery position to a receiving position, means for admitting compressed air to the back of each diaphragm when ina receiving position, means for producing a partial vacuum back of said diaphragms when in a delivery position, yielding means for balancing the weight of said grippers and holding them in a normal position for the purpose stated.

13. In a device of the class described,

spaced pneumatic grippers, each having a.

diaphragm on its inner face, a support for said grippers, means for moving said grippers from a delivery position to a receiving position and means for admitting compressed air to the back of each diaphragm when in a receiving position. 7

14. In a device of the class described, a supporting member capable of movement from a receiving position to a delivery p0- sition, pneumatic grippers on said support, means for actuating the grippers-to grasp a block of plastic material, means for actuating said support,'and means for actuating the grippers to release said block.

15. In a device of the class described, spaced pneumatic grippers having means for supporting and moving them from a receiving position to a delivery position, and:

vice versa, and means for actiietin said grippers when in a receiving position to grasp a plastic block, or brick, and to deliver the same when in a delivery position.

ALFRED G. HAGUE. 

